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Home→South African News→News24.com | WRAP | Covid-19 deaths breach 1 000 and schools reopen across SA

News24.com | WRAP | Covid-19 deaths breach 1 000 and schools reopen across SA

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  • The Covid-19 related death toll breached the 1 000 mark on Monday evening.
  • The number of confirmed Covid-19 cases has risen to 50 879.
  • As of 8 June, 26 099 recoveries have been recorded in South Africa.

TALKING POINT: On Monday schools across the country opened for teaching, starting with grades 7 and 12. This despite mixed reactions about returning to school amidst the country’s rising number of Covid-19 cases.

A team of News24 reporters was on the ground and found that personnel screened pupils as they entered schools and were given masks and gloves. However, some schools in far-flung areas were still experiencing water shortage problems and lack of proper sanitation which forced some to close its gates.

Here is a wrap of our stories:

38 Gauteng schools have reported Covid-19 cases, says Lesufi

Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi announced that 38 schools in the province have reported Covid-19 cases.

Lesufi was updating the media in Midrand on the first day of the reopening of schools on Monday afternoon.

He also said 39 pupils and teachers have tested positive.

“Today only, we received 38 new cases that demand investigations. The 38 new cases that demand investigation is in the process of tracing those that were in contact with those that have tested positive,” he said.

Lesufi also told reporters the province recorded an 85% attendance of pupils and educators on the first day of the reopening of schools. 

He added that nine schools did not open, due to infrastructural issues, which the department is currently addressing.

Teaching starts at one Gauteng school while another raises alarm bells

Gauteng Community Safety MEC Faith Mazibuko raised concerns regarding the level of cleaning at Sehopotso Secondary School in Sebokeng.

Mazibuko visited the school to inspect the state of readiness as Grade 7 and 12 pupils returned to classrooms on Monday.

The MEC said the school wasn’t thoroughly cleaned, including several classrooms. However, she said the school was ready to resume teaching and learning.

Gauteng farm school closed after mayor discovers there is no water for pupils

School opened for pupils attending Ramusukula Secondary School on Monday, despite there being no water on the school’s property.

Pupils spent more than four hours at the school, which is situated in the Barrage farming area in the Vaal, before Emfuleni Mayor Gift Moerane raised alarm bells.

Moerane made the discovery after he had went to the bathroom and noticed there was no water. The mayor was then informed by officials at the school that boreholes supplying water to the school had run dry.

More than 100 KZN schools still closed due to water shortages

More than 100 schools in KwaZulu-Natal did not open with the rest of the schools around the country on Monday due to water challenges, the province’s Education MEC Kwazi Mshengu has confirmed.

During his visit to schools, Mshengu said it was expected that over 6 000 schools in the KZN province would open. However, 104 schools would not be opening due to water shortages.

Back to school in Limpopo, but one private school closed after pupil tests positive

While schooling in Limpopo resumed in the majority of areas on Monday amid joy and trepidation from Grade 7s and 12s, classes were suspended at a private institution in Polokwane after a pupil tested positive for Covid-19.

The principal at Mitchell House School, Andrew Cook, said in a letter to parents that the Grade 12 pupil had returned to school last week.

The pupil had been in contact with others between Monday and Wednesday, before developing flu-like symptoms.

Most Eastern Cape schools reopen, but mobile toilets, water tanks, PPE still needed at 490

While 95% of schools in the Eastern Cape reopened on Monday, 490 schools have been delayed as the education department delivered mobile toilets, water tanks and personal protective equipment on the first day of school amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Themba Kojana, superintendent general of the provincial education department, told News24 the process of delivering equipment to schools was still under way.

“By 15:00, I will be able to tell you how many schools we have managed to cover. Our workers are on the ground. But we have made sure that the pupils are not suffering. For instance, neighbouring schools are housing learners whose schools are not ready because remember this is only two grades that are returning to school. We are still disinfecting some schools while others are getting mobile toilets.”

Return of Mpumalanga pupils goes smoothly, despite some setbacks – dept

Grade 7s and 12s in Mpumalanga were welcomed back to school on Monday and, despite a few setbacks, the reopening went smoothly, according to Jasper Zwane, spokesperson for the province’s education department.

Zwane said most districts across the province had experienced a “relatively stable” reopening, with many pupils able to return.

Zwane said the local business forum had held a protest over tenders in Lekazi near Mbombela.

“We want to condemn this… it is really uncalled for and we think it compromises the future of our children. If people want tenders they should wait for the tender bulletin and apply accordingly,” Zwane said.

Pupils relocated after viral video shows crumbling school infrastructure in Mpumalanga

Mpumalanga Premier Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane has relocated pupils and teachers from Makibe Primary School to Mogalitwa Primary School as part of a temporary measure after she expressed her dissatisfaction with the dilapidated state of the farm school.

Makibe Primary School has been shut down and 36 Grade 7 pupils relocated, Mtshweni-Tsipane said on Monday.

“As we speak, that school has been closed with immediate effect – there will be no teaching and learning at the school.

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